What is babytalk and why do we do it? Do all caregivers use babytalk? Is it harmful or does it help at all? Questions surrounding children’s language development were not simply raised by parents—developmental researchers have devoted their studies for decades to find answers to these questions. In acquiring a more holistic understanding of babytalk, we must dive into how adults truly speak to infants, what the kind of speech babies prefer to hear, and what it all means for their development.
Author's Note Krcmar, 2011; DeLoache et al., 2010; Dynia et al., 2021; Neuman et al., 2014 assessed the effectiveness of teaching technology and media on teaching infants language and reading skills.
I wrote this short literature review for my Cognitive Development class. This paper was part of a quarter-long term project that involved summarizing cognitive development research for an academic audience and then translating those findings for a lay audience. Because of the requirements of the term project, this paper, even though it’s mostly academic, makes practical recommendations for parents.
I wrote this paper for my CMN 161: Health Communications class to research more about suicide in the U.S. I first explore the suicide crisis in the U.S. from multiple different perspectives in order to understand the factors that lead to increased suicidality and the current interventions that exist for tackling the suicide crisis. Later on in the paper, I then discuss the purpose and effectiveness of the #RealConvo campaign conducted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention during May 2019.
Joy Zheng is an undergraduate in the class of 2026 studying psychology. One of her favorite things to do in her spare time is cooking and baking, bringing the concept of nutrition and macromolecules to the playing field. Initially, this piece was born in the University Writing Program 001 with Professor Monterrey and examined the relationship between junk food and a student’s academic performance.
I wrote this paper for PSC103A: Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data with Rohit Bantra. As an avid coffee connoisseur, I was interested in finding whether or not my caffeine consumption was good for my mental health. I hope this paper interests those who also enjoy their coffee, even if they are a tad disappointed with the results (as I was). This was my first experience coding in R and engaging with quantitative psychology, which both came in handy when I used the same skills/concepts to complete my honors thesis.
The racist history of the mental health field, exemplified by figures like Samuel A. Cartwright, has led to a persistent mistrust among Black Americans towards mental health professionals. Addressing this mistrust requires race-conscious providers who understand and empathize with the unique challenges faced by Black patients, thus fostering a more inclusive and effective mental health care environment.
The Reggio Emilia Approach, rooted in social constructivism, emphasizes child-centered learning through creativity, collaboration, and flexible, aesthetically stimulating environments, integrating theories from Piaget, Vygotsky, Gardner, and Bruner. This paper explores the approach's benefits, such as enhanced critical thinking and empathy, and its limitations, particularly its applicability beyond early childhood education.
This piece explores the significant role of childhood trauma in the development of schizophrenia, highlighting how adverse experiences, particularly emotional neglect, can influence the disorder's onset and severity through altered brain development and genetic predispositions. Understanding these connections has crucial implications for developing targeted, trauma-informed treatments to manage and potentially prevent schizophrenia.
